False positive troponin I in a case of metastatic small cell bronchogenic carcinoma complicated by pulmonary thromboembolism

From the search for the ultimate cardiac marker have emerged the cardiac tr oponins, which have offered high sensitivity and specificity for myocardial damage. Troponin I has arguably been the best of this group, but even this marker is not infallible. We present the case of an elderly woman who died shortly after being diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction on the basi s of elevated Troponin I. Autopsy revealed a small cell lung cancer complic ated by pulmonary thromboembolism. There was no evidence of myocardial infa rction, Explanations for false elevation of serum Troponin I are proposed.